Page 22 - The Pioneers, November 26, 2016 Hong Kong
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Through Matisse's influence, Ding's works and Slowly, Ding developed his signature style of ink
teachings exemplified simplicity and naivety through paintings that was exuberant and free, idiosyncratic
the reduction of the natural forms, without diminishing and pure. His figure paintings are imbued with these
its rich content (Fig. 6). Ding sought to achieve a elements, from his one-stroke paintings (Fig. 8) to
"returning to the innocence of a child and achieving historical figures which have been given a twist with
a personal style capable of conveying rich meaning his eccentric humour (Fig. 9). Many of his figures,
through simple forms" (Fig. 7), and believed that these while adhereing to traditional subject matters, do
ideals could be fulfilled through Chinese art. Sadly the not follow traditional prototypes, instead follow
majority of his works were lost between this important his creative imagination and often done in a highly
period, prior to his move to Hong Kong in 1949. exaggerated style with a strong Chinese flavour,
similar to this present lot. The expressive lines and the
THE ROAD TO MODERNITY bold colours in this work evoke the Fauvist paintings
of Matisse, while the use of ink and colour recalls
Ding Yanyong's arrival in Hong Kong on 13 the brushwork of Bada Sharen. Highly experimental
October 1949 was fraught with financial difficulty, in nature, Ding's whimsical depiction of the figures
loneliness and personal tragedy. Some scholars display a distinctive humour and wit (Fig. 10).
Fig. 7 Ding Yanyong, Wondrous Lake, Dated 1969. Private Fig. 8 Ding Yanyong, Figure. The Painting Album of Ting Yin
Collection, Taiwan, Aesthetic Images of Ding Yanyong's Paintings, Yung, E-Den Studio, Hong Kong, February 1995, pl.179.
圖 8 丁衍庸 《吳帶當風》
National History Museum, Taipei, August 2003, p.133. 《丁衍 庸 書 畫 集》，一 點 畫 室，香 港，19 9 5 年 2月，圖 版17 9。
圖 7 丁衍庸 《湖中勝景》 一九六九年作 台灣私人藏品
《意像 之 美：丁衍 庸 的 繪 畫 藝 術》，國 立 歷 史 博 物 館，台 北，2 0 0 3 年，第13 3頁。
inferred that paintings of that period was MYTHS AND LEGENDS IN CHINA -
"manifestations of his loneliness and solitude". THE EIGHT IMMORTALS
Ding developed a greater sympathy towards Bada The Eight Immortals, worshipped as gods of longevity,
Shanren's works and the cold and lonely mood it evoked are fabled Taoist Gods from the Han Dynasty (206
owing to Bada Shanren's personal journey. Ding saw BC – AD 240) and are most commonly presented as a
Bada Shanren as one who "destroyed old art forms group crossing the sea on a wooden or bamboo boat
of China with great determination, and created new after attending the peach banquet of the Queen Mother
forms more suitable for his own time". Additionally, of the West, or battling with a young dragon in the
Ding followed the expressive and spontaneous xieyi sea. Each Immortal is identifiable by their attributes:
style of Xu Wei, Shitao and Jin Nong. He allowed the
development of his ink paintings to mature over time, ZHONGLI QUAN - leader of the Eight Immortals
assimilating his exposure to Western art, personal who obtained the secrets of the elixir of life, is often
journey and influence of old traditional Chinese artists shown as an over-weight man with an exposed
to achieve a harmonious integration of all these belly, with a peach and his main emblem, a fan,
elements. During the modernisation of art in China in which is believed to revive the souls of the dead;
the 20th century, artists approached the dichotomies
of the Chinese and the West, the traditional and the ZHANG GUOLAO - a recluse with magical powers
contemporary differently: while Xu Beihong forged ways and the ability to make himself invisible, is often
to inject a sense of realism into traditional Chinese accompanied by a white mule which he rides
painting, Lin Fengmian sought an expression using backwards during his travels, and often carries a
ink and colour. On the other hand, Ding Yanyong's Chinese musical instrument called the yugu;
innovation of ink lies in his inimitable understanding
of different aesthetics as well as their spirits. LU DONGBIN - a scholar recluse who was taught
the way of Taoism by Zhongli Quan and gained
18 THE PIONEERS 先 鋒 薈 萃 immortality at the age of 50, is commonly shown
